Alka Selot Asthana, Global Head, Regulatory, Tata Communications
India has moved quickly on 5G. Networks have been rolled out at scale, indigenous capabilities are being developed and conversations around 6G have already begun. Yet, despite this progress, one question continues to dominate every discussion around next-generation technologies: where will monetisation come from?
Enterprise adoption
Telecom conversations in India are often driven by consumer requirements. Given the size of the subscriber base, that is understandable. However, enterprise requirements are very different and deserve greater attention.
The real promise of 5G lies in what it can enable for industries. Manufacturing, mining, logistics and healthcare can benefit from dedicated connectivity, network slicing, automation and real-time data exchange. These are enterprise use cases and they require a different approach. Enterprises are willing to invest when technology helps solve a business problem or improve an operational process. The challenge lies in creating the right framework for adoption.
This becomes particularly evident in the case of captive non-public networks. Under the current framework, enterprises seeking private network deployments are expected to obtain licences and spectrum before deploying these networks. But why should enterprises have to become telecom experts in order to use telecom services?
Telecom service providers exist to build, manage and operate communications networks. The objective should not be to turn every enterprise into a telecom operator. If Industry 4.0 is to become a reality at scale, enterprises should be able to focus on their own operations while telecom providers focus on delivering and managing connectivity services.
There is also an economic dimension to the discussion. Spectrum is currently structured in a way that is largely suited to access service providers. Enterprise deployments, however, may only require connectivity within a factory, campus or industrial site. Requiring spectrum acquisition on a much larger scale can make the business case difficult to justify. As a result, capabilities that could benefit industries often remain underutilised.
Solutions first
The industry has spent years discussing what 5G can do. A more useful question is what problems need to be solved. Whether it is security, operational efficiency, automation or risk management, technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics and advanced connectivity can be combined to address real-world challenges. The focus should be on creating solutions that enterprises can use rather than discussing technology as an end in itself.
This is also where future monetisation opportunities are likely to emerge. Enterprises are willing to invest when technology helps solve a business problem. The greater opportunity therefore lies in building solutions rather than simply selling connectivity.
Policy and regulation
Alongside monetisation and adoption, there is a need to address the regulatory environment within which the industry operates.
Telecom operators today face increasing compliance obligations, whether in relation to spam management, user verification or other regulatory requirements. While consumer protection remains important, there is also a need to examine how responsibility is being assigned across the ecosystem. Fraudulent messages and spam are genuine concerns. However, the responsibility for such actions should primarily rest with those carrying them out. Telecom operators provide the network, but they cannot reasonably be expected to determine the intent behind every communication that passes through it.
The concern is that measures designed to address a relatively small number of offenders often end up increasing compliance requirements for the entire ecosystem. The result is higher costs, greater operational complexity and additional burdens for legitimate users and enterprises. A more balanced approach would focus on identifying bad actors directly while reducing unnecessary compliance burdens on the wider ecosystem.
The same principle applies to enterprise telecom services more broadly. Enterprise requirements differ significantly from consumer requirements, yet both are often viewed through the same regulatory lens. As enterprises increasingly adopt advanced connectivity solutions, there is a strong case for developing a dedicated enterprise regulatory framework that reflects their specific needs and operating realities.
The road ahead
As the industry begins preparing for 6G, the lessons from 5G should remain firmly in focus. Technology alone will not drive success. Use cases, adoption and monetisation must remain central to the conversation.
India has demonstrated its ability to build advanced networks. The next phase will depend on how effectively those networks are used, how easily enterprises can adopt them and whether the regulatory framework evolves to support that transition. The opportunity is significant, but realising it will require a stronger focus on enterprise requirements, practical use cases and solutions that create measurable value.
